We said goodbye to our gracious hosts, Karl and Guiselle, and headed back around the lake to La Fortuna. We wanted to hike the old lava flows that remain from the Arenal Volcano. Somehow, we passed by our original target (the Costa Ricans haven't quite gotten the hang of giant signs and billboards with arrows …
We're a couple of days behind on the blog, but it's tough settling down to write in paradise. So pretend it's still Wednesday. On that day, we took a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. We weren't planning to do a tour, but because we booked all our other tours through Iguana Tours, they threw …
Yesterday, we had our first water adventure: white water rafting. We thought we were getting class V rapids but the trip we were on only had class II and III. I'm still not sure we got the tour we originally booked (or thought we booked); nevertheless, we had a blast. We took a bus ride …
But if you do, you really can get another one in one day--at least I know you can if you're within driving distance of Chicago. Tuesday: Yes, Tuesday night I realized my passport wasn't in it's usual spot. We are leaving this morning (Saturday) for Costa Rica, as you probably know. I hunted and hunted. …
Sometimes when you can't get away and the weather is just yucky (if you read this blog, you may have gotten an inkling that the weather in Chicago SUCKS!), you have to pretend to go away by experiencing a different culture at home. To that end, Steven and I went to one of the best …
Who doesn't love their dog? Rosie has been part of the family for 9 of her 10 years. She's a little (little is not a word we should be using with Rosie - in any context) crazy in a German shepherd way, but she's loyal and she gets me out of the house even when it …
Everyone I have mentioned Costa Rica to has either said they had been there and loved it or really wanted to go. Of course, this makes me even more excited for the trip, but I realized that although we keep talking about beauty and adventure, we had not at all talked about history and culture. The …
As you probably know, we are going to Costa Rica in 5 weeks (not that I am counting). A few months ago, I decided that I should at least try to remember some of my Spanish and learn a little more. I never could really speak, but I could do touristy stuff like order food …
Wow, it's tough to think about whitewater rafting, hiking through rain forests and up volcanoes, or touring a coffee plantation when you need five layers of clothing to walk your apparently-impervious-to-cold dog. I tried to pretend the crispy crunching of snow sounded like waves lapping on the shore, but I must admit, my imagination lacks …
Snow We shoveled, sweating My mind on a jungle hike Costa Rica calls Beaches Sun, sand, surf, salt, sea Wandering, breathing, soaking it in, peacefully Arenal Volcano My thoughts erupting They bubble forth unbidden Flowing like lava Two Shovels Shovels on the deck Are we making sand castles? Rich fantasy life Now we write haikus? …
Doing It On The Road 